CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE related to regulation of political campaigns; amending Section 2.04.300 of the Seattle Municipal Code to clarify proper uses of public office facilities for political purposes; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
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WHEREAS it is in the interest of the City of Seattle to ensure that no elected official be allowed to use taxpayer funded staff and resources to coordinate and assist their election campaigns; and
WHEREAS Seattle's ethics and elections codes are often cited as national models for upholding public trust and faith in the conduct of government employees and elected officials; and
WHEREAS the current election code is unclear on what is and is not an indirect use of City resources as it relates to political campaign activities; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 2.04.300 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 117308, is amended as follows:
2.04.300 Prohibition against use of public office facilities in campaigns((.))
No elected official nor any employee of ((his or her))an elected official's office nor any person appointed to or employed by any public office or agency may use or authorize the use of any of the facilities of a public office or agency, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of assisting a campaign for election of any person to any office or for the promotion of or opposition to any ballot proposition.
No elected official, nor the official's agent, shall engage in activities for the purpose of assisting a campaign for election of any person to any office or for the promotion of or opposition to any ballot proposition at, or adjacent to, any official city public event that is organized by that elected official or any employee of the official's office. Activities for the purpose of assisting a campaign for election of any person to any office or for the promotion of or opposition to any ballot proposition may not occur during the event or at any time that attendees of the public event are present.
Facilities of public office or agency include but are not limited to use of stationery, postage, machines, and equipment, use of employees of the office or agency during working hours, vehicles, office space, publications of the office or agency, and clientele lists of persons served by the officer or agency; provided, that the foregoing provisions of this section shall not apply to the following activities:
A. Action taken at an open public meeting by the City Council to express a collective decision or to actually vote upon a motion, proposal, resolution, order or ordinance, or to support or oppose a ballot proposition so long as:
((())1.(())) ((a))Any required notice of the meeting includes the title and number of the ballot proposition;((,)) and
((())2.(())) ((m))Members of the City Council or members of the public are afforded an approximate equal opportunity for the expression of an opposing view;
B. A statement by an elected official in support of or in opposition to any ballot proposition at an open press conference or in response to a specific inquiry; and
C. Activities that are part of the normal and regular conduct of the office or agency.
Section 2. Ratify and Confirm. Any act consistent with the authority of this ordinance taken after its passage and prior to its effective date is ratified and confirmed.
Section 3. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30 days after its approval by the Mayor, but if not approved and returned by the Mayor within ten days after presentation, it shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Section 1.04.020.
Passed by the City Council the ____ day of ________________________, 2015, and
signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this
_____ day of ___________________, 2015.
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President __________of the City Council
Approved by me this ____ day of _____________________, 2015.
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Edward B. Murray, Mayor
Filed by me this ____ day of __________________________, 2015.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)